Do you know any euphemisms for these two words:
Garbage Collecter
Bathroom
2007-10-19 20:31:34 · 13 answers · asked by dusty 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
The best euphemism for a garbage collector has already been given by one of your answerers: "sanitation engineer". The word "engineer" has thus been devalued. In some old department stores there is still a person who operates the elevator. The operator rejoices in the name of "vertical displacement engineer", otherwise known in England as the "lift attendant".
Another answerer gave you a nice list of euphemisms for the bathroom: John, Lavatory, restroom, loo, powder room. What you may not have noticed is that "bathroom" is itself an euphemism for the actual water closet (wc) in which the unmentionable business is performed. So, your guest saves himself/herself and you the embarrassment by asking for the "bathroom" when he/she surely does not intend to have a bath. The problem with euphemisms is that in time they too acquire the taint of the objects or acts which they once indirectly named. Hence, 50 years ago in motorways one saw signs to "toilets", then changed to "bathrooms", and then to "restrooms". Nobody stops there to bathe, nor to rest! In time even "restroom" became tainted. Now we only see "comfort stations" in many motorways. At least this one is more accurate, for surely trying to hold back causes enormous discomfort.
In pubs I can see the time when the actual wcs are also called "vomitoriums", evolving to "regurgitorium" in due course.
One thing I have noticed is that in aircraft they make no bones about bodily functions -- they are either toilets or lavatories, usually the latter for in French the word "toilet" does not connote just the unmentionable.
2007-10-20 04:03:21 · answer #1 · answered by Norm 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sanitation Engineer
Powder Room
2007-10-19 20:58:58 · answer #2 · answered by Don Vittorio Corlleone 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sanitation Engineer
Murphy Closet
2007-10-19 20:39:00 · answer #3 · answered by Tony L 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Collectibles Disposal Worker.
Sanitation Engineer.
2007-10-19 22:31:47 · answer #4 · answered by ghouly05 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Garbage collector: sanitation worker
Bathroom: John, Lavatory, restroom, loo, powder room
2007-10-19 20:36:33 · answer #5 · answered by treebird 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
um... a guy who collects trashy women, maybe? Garbage Collector could be a euphemism for that.
2007-10-19 20:34:48 · answer #6 · answered by Jenny 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
This is a stretch, but for garbage collector, you could say "Sanitary engineer".
For bathroom it's usually "powder room"
2007-10-19 20:53:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Refuse worker, rest room.
Sanitation staff, powder room.
2007-10-19 23:14:45 · answer #8 · answered by Dinah 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Garbage collector = blowfly
Bathroom = sandbox, crapper, library, thunderbox ...
2007-10-19 22:26:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Garbage Collector- dumpster.
Bathroom- the "can".
2007-10-19 20:44:52 · answer #10 · answered by ihaveaurinalathome! 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋